# July Mini Rants (now with fireworks!) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 2, 2018, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-mini-rants-now-with-fireworks/817130 "2018-07-02T02:06:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2018, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-mini-rants-now-with-fireworks/817130/141 "2018-07-21T17:26:15Z")
> [@DummyGladHands](#): > > I share the home network with my boyfriend, who is a commercial contractor, and who is always looking up frammerjams and wingwhams for something he’s building. So I am inundated with ads for the same on my laptop. > > Holy cats, I just thought. I wonder if he gets stuff for what I’m looking at??? I was once chatting to my former housemate while he was on the computer and noticed, among the adverts on the screen, one for a bra company specifying that they stocked my very uncommon size. No, he didn’t have a girlfriend. I got ads for electrical components I’m fairly sure were aimed at him too, but that’s far less awkward. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2018, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-mini-rants-now-with-fireworks/817130/142 "2018-07-21T17:32:15Z")
I was looking at an ocarina website on my dad’s computer, and now he keeps getting ads for ocarinas. Oh well, at least I wasn’t looking for sex toys or something. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2018, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-mini-rants-now-with-fireworks/817130/143 "2018-07-21T17:50:52Z")
Okay everyone. [Click this link](https://www.amazon.com/Passion-Lubes-Natural-Water-Based-Lubricant/dp/B005MR3IVO) and let us know what ads you start getting. (SFW) ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2018, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-mini-rants-now-with-fireworks/817130/144 "2018-07-21T18:06:43Z")
> [@EmilyG](#): > > I was looking at an ocarina website on my dad’s computer… I’ll take “Phrases I Never Thought I’d Read” for $800, Alex. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2018, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-mini-rants-now-with-fireworks/817130/145 "2018-07-21T19:30:16Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Washington Post, your breaking news sucks. > > They have these red banners they add that say BREAKING NEWS, and I see them and think, oh fuck, North Korea just shot down a plane, or Serena Williams just got kidnapped by mole people, or Mitch McConnell has started eating flies on the floor of the senate with his long lizard tongue. > > Then I read the article, and it’s like (this is the real example that set me off) > Seriously? That’s BREAKING NEWS? Here’s mine. I’m in a meeting, and I hear the “news alert tone”. I’m explaining something to my client and his contractors and it would be extremely impolite to pick up the phone. But I’m wondering “What happened?” Good News? Bad News? Asassination? Terror Attack? Am I going to have to cross the Queensboro Bridge on foot and walk home? So my part of the meeting ends and I pick up the phone The “Breaking News” headline is “Is technology stressing you out?” Here are some tips? Aarrggg… > [@bmasters1](#): > > Why would you get Facebook ads for a business that is similarly named to the business you got your pizza from, even if differently spelled? I bought a refrigerator and for months I saw ads for refrigerators. I bought a daybed and I got ads for the EXACT SAME bed. I went to New Mexico last month, stayed ONE night at a hotel near the Santa Fe airport and I took an Uber. Now all I’m seeing are ads for bars and restaurants in Santa Fe. OTOH, I really like a certain style and brand of cheap athletic pants that Walmart carries. And whenever they go on sale, I’m sure to see it in a pop-up ad. And I buy a few pairs to stock up. That one I like. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2018, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-mini-rants-now-with-fireworks/817130/146 "2018-07-21T21:25:59Z")
First off, let me say I love my little Yorkie. She is 4lbs. of hair and air. Dumb doesn’t describe her mental abilities. She has doggy downs syndrome, If there is such a thing. Late yesterday I was in our high-ish deck with the dogs. Yorkie was by the edge looking over (at nothing). It looked like she was gonna jump. So I go over to grab her and she moved. Guess who went over the egde? Landing hard on grass, I have a sprained toe and a sore shoulder. When I looked up both dogs were staring down at my dumb ass, thinking, “why did Mom jump?” It never ends around here. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2018, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-mini-rants-now-with-fireworks/817130/147 "2018-07-21T23:02:17Z")
Just going into the next phase of treatment, radiation and chemo for 26 weekdays, and the stupid bitch that does second shift quality assurance where mrAru does third shift got fired for incompetence so the day guy and mrAru are going to have to split her hours, so he will be working 5 pm to 5 am. With my freaking luck they will schedule me for 430 pm so there will be no way for him to take me to the appointments ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2018, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-mini-rants-now-with-fireworks/817130/148 "2018-07-21T23:47:19Z")
Okay. Who thought this was a good idea? “Spinner” plugs in bathroom sinks here in Beijing. He/she needs to be hung up by the thumbs and have the room filled with dirty water; of course, the room needs to have that kind of stopper at the bottom. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2018, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-mini-rants-now-with-fireworks/817130/149 "2018-07-22T01:43:27Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Okay. Who thought this was a good idea? “Spinner” plugs in bathroom sinks here in Beijing. Hearing _Rubberband Man_ every time you was your hands sounds like fun! ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2018, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-mini-rants-now-with-fireworks/817130/150 "2018-07-22T02:10:58Z")
Yeah, what do you mean? I’m picturing a fidget spinner at the bottom of a sink that you need to spin 99 times, and you’re racing to get it done before the water overflows… ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2018, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-mini-rants-now-with-fireworks/817130/151 "2018-07-22T03:46:29Z")
I tried find a picture online, but no dice. Fidget spinner? Yep, that pretty much describes it. Instead of having a plug that you can yank out with a chain or one that has a lever to push it up/pull it down, this thing has a rubber gasket around the middle of the edge. The stopper is put in the sink such that it spins. You push it closed and then when you’re finished, you push on it to open the drain. What’s the point of washing your hands, then, if you have to plunge them in the dirty water to empty the sink? ---
**Author:** ![mistymage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mistymage/32/459_2.png) [@mistymage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mistymage)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2018, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-mini-rants-now-with-fireworks/817130/152 "2018-07-22T04:29:42Z")
I wanted to get some sun today since it mid-July and we still haven’t went anywhere for a vacation week-end. I can’t sit outside and get sun because we live in Shrek’s swamp and the mosquitoes will drain me in 10 minutes. So I went out to The Shop (the Mister’s BFF of almost 40 years acreage where they have all of their toys). The Mister and BFF were busy all day at the neighbor’s fixing a water line problem (they got to play with their backhoe). I was in my nice recliner chair getting tons of sun. A really nice sunburn. Except I was reading my Kindle Fire the whole time so I have a nice sunburned face, light olive neck, sunburned top of boobs and super dark legs/arms.(Shorts and shirt covered my belly.) So, yeah, I am a white necked red skin. I have got to remember to set the books aside and look up just a bit. I smell like a pickle because white vinegar reduces the sting of a sunburn. ---
**Author:** ![half-elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@half-elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/half-elf)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2018, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-mini-rants-now-with-fireworks/817130/153 "2018-07-22T08:48:35Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > When I arrived at work today, receptionist told me I was going to really embarrass her by not being there for pizza. So, either I stay for pizza or she quits. > > I do not do ultimatums. I asked if she was giving two weeks notice or if she would be leaving for good at the end of the day. She is currently crying in the bathroom. > > Happy Friday!! So, what happened? I know it’s too late now, but what I would suggest to get out of it and save face would be for her to tell the sales person that something unexpected came up and you had to leave. Possibly offer ‘apologies’ on your behalf. She could even perhaps offer to listen to the sales pitch herself and get the free pizza! ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2018, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-mini-rants-now-with-fireworks/817130/154 "2018-07-22T13:44:52Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > Just going into the next phase of treatment, radiation and chemo for 26 weekdays, and the stupid bitch that does second shift quality assurance where mrAru does third shift got fired for incompetence so the day guy and mrAru are going to have to split her hours, so he will be working 5 pm to 5 am. With my freaking luck they will schedule me for 430 pm so there will be no way for him to take me to the appointments I hear there’s a woman in your region who has some time on her hands lately, and would probably jump at the chance to pick up a few extra bucks doing something less intellectually demanding than her last position, like ride-sharing… ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2018, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-mini-rants-now-with-fireworks/817130/155 "2018-07-22T15:21:37Z")
> [@half-elf](#): > > So, what happened? > > I know it’s too late now, but what I would suggest to get out of it and save face would be for her to tell the sales person that something unexpected came up and you had to leave. Possibly offer ‘apologies’ on your behalf. She could even perhaps offer to listen to the sales pitch herself and get the free pizza! He showed up with pizzas, she told him I wasn’t interested in talking to him. He took his pizzas and left in a huff. “Apologizing” on my behalf would have pissed me off and she knew better. She was fine the rest of the day, and thanked me at the end of the day for being cool with her. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2018, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-mini-rants-now-with-fireworks/817130/156 "2018-07-22T17:27:22Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > She’s reliable and overall does her job well. One thing I’ve learned, there’s always worse. I think she learned from the experience also. > [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Ol’ Jack goes 0 for 1,000,000. > > Listen, it’s not easy to meet attractive single women my age, so when one comes bopping into my department and is completely pleasant and friendly and seems to enjoy talking to me, I actually had hope that it wouldn’t happen again. But sure enough, just as I’m working on the patter - an actual plan to ask her out for a weekend date while having a pleasant lunchtime conversation - hear comes the words I’m so used to hearing: > > “My boyfriend …” > > As in, “Oh you have to buy a dress for a wedding? Who’s getting married?” “Oh, my boyfreind’s … something …” I tuned out after the B-word. > > Fuck. Can I suggest that before you ask a girl out, before you get to the stage where you’re invested, that you ASK her if she has a boyfriend. It comes off as confident. And, as a woman that’s frequently had boyfriends, it’s really awkward when there’s a guy that you sort of sense is into you and you know he’s going to ask you out and you really want to defuse the situation because YOU HAVE A BOYFRIEND. It’s not that there anything wrong with the guy, you might like him, he might even be someone you’d be interested in if YOU DIDNT HAVE A BOYFRIEND. So you think you can casually drop “my boyfriend” into conversation and you do and the guy reacts like you hit him with a baseball bat. Because you fell in love with someone else 5 years before you met him. This happened to me once with a business acquaintance. When I told him I had a boyfriend he said, nastily “and here we go again” and stormed off. I assume this had happened with other women. And he cut me dead for 5 years. He would be talking with other friends of mine at a party or conference, I would join the group and he would glare at me and flounce away. Why? Because I had the audacity to get engaged before I met him, I guess. So ask. > [@kayaker](#): > > He showed up with pizzas, she told him I wasn’t interested in talking to him. He took his pizzas and left in a huff. > > “Apologizing” on my behalf would have pissed me off and she knew better. She was fine the rest of the day, and thanked me at the end of the day for being cool with her. I think the real lesson for your receptionist is to always get a contact number. Because sometimes she might make a appointment on your behalf that you really want to keep, but something might come up and you’ll need to cancel. And that salesman sounds like an ass. A good salesman would’ve sat down with her, shared the pizza and talked a little about his product or service in the hopes that maybe she’d pass some of it on. At least he would’ve come off as a good sport and maybe you’d remember that if you were ever in the market for their products. Especially when the alternative is sitting in your car eating two whole pizzas out of spite. Remember to buy pizza for your receptionist, that way you can laugh about it. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2018, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-mini-rants-now-with-fireworks/817130/157 "2018-07-22T18:54:38Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > Can I suggest that before you ask a girl out, before you get to the stage where you’re invested, that you ASK her if she has a boyfriend. It comes off as confident. > > And, as a woman that’s frequently had boyfriends, it’s really awkward when there’s a guy that you sort of sense is into you and you know he’s going to ask you out and you really want to defuse the situation because YOU HAVE A BOYFRIEND. It’s not that there anything wrong with the guy, you might like him, he might even be someone you’d be interested in if YOU DIDNT HAVE A BOYFRIEND. > > So you think you can casually drop “my boyfriend” into conversation and you do and the guy reacts like you hit him with a baseball bat. Because you fell in love with someone else 5 years before you met him. I appreciate the advice. I will take it to heart. I feel I must say that I didn’t react that ridiculously. I’m sure there was a slight registration of disappointment on my face, but I continued our conversation pleasantly enough. And I still plan on being friendly with her; she’s a nice person, why wouldn’t I? Besides, she’s transferring to another department in another week or so, so I won’t have to torture myself for that long. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2018, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-mini-rants-now-with-fireworks/817130/158 "2018-07-22T19:34:31Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > Remember to buy pizza for your receptionist, that way you can laugh about it. 😃 That’s one department where I excel. I buy lunch for everyone once a week. Even _that_ can cause problems. Years ago I had an employee “tattle” on another employee who, she said, ordered extra food for lunch so that she’d have a snack for after work. I explained that there were no constraints on what people ordered. Further, I mentioned that “tattling” on her coworker wasn’t cool. Nobody liked her and I could see why. Her husband eventually got a job offer that required relocating. Yay!!! ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2018, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-mini-rants-now-with-fireworks/817130/159 "2018-07-23T03:14:45Z")
Quote: Originally Posted by **aruvqan** [https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/images/buttons/viewpost.gif](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=21100368#post21100368) Just going into the next phase of treatment, radiation and chemo for 26 weekdays, and the stupid bitch that does second shift quality assurance where mrAru does third shift got fired for incompetence so the day guy and mrAru are going to have to split her hours, so he will be working 5 pm to 5 am. With my freaking luck they will schedule me for 430 pm so there will be no way for him to take me to the appointments ``` [kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php?u=2709) ``` [![](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/images/statusicon/user_online.gif) ](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/images/statusicon/user_online.gif) Charter Member Join Date: Sep 1999 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 29,502 ``` I hear there’s a woman in your region who has some time on her hands lately, and would probably jump at the chance to pick up a few extra bucks doing something less intellectually demanding than her last position, like ride-sharing... ``` oh? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2018, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-mini-rants-now-with-fireworks/817130/160 "2018-07-23T03:20:27Z")
Not sure whether I should wreck the joke by explaining it, or withdraw it and apologize for being insensitive… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-mini-rants-now-with-fireworks/817130.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-mini-rants-now-with-fireworks/817130.md?page=9)